Squirrel-flavoured crisps go on sale in UK

Walkers launched its Do Us A Flavour campaign last July, challenging members of the public to think up a unique flavour of crisp.

Fish and chips, crispy duck and hoi sin, and builder’s breakfast have also made the finals of the public search.

Chef Heston Blumenthal and a judging panel picked the top six entries from more than one million, and Walkers turned the ideas into reality.

The crisps can be bought from all supermarkets from today until May, either individually or in a special multipack containing all six flavours.

Blumenthal said: “The complexities of flavour fascinate me and to watch the British public get so excited about taste has been absolutely inspiring.

“We’ve had an incredible response and sifting through the entries has been quite incredible. I can’t wait to see which on the public choose as their winner!”

Votes cast on the Walkers website between now and May 1 will decide which flavour stays permanently on sale, and the creator will win £50,000, on top of the £10,000 that each finalist has already received.

One per cent of profits from all future sales will also be handed to the winner. The crisp manufacturer revealed that, if sales should reach that of its BBQ flavour for example, the winner would receive around £57,000 a year.

Chilli and chocolate is the brainchild of Catherine Veitch, from High Wycombe, who entered the competition with her friend Sian Smith from Oxfordshire.

The pair, who work in educational publishing, took more than 500 pictures as part of their entry Ms Veitch said: “Chilli and chocolate might sound like a crazy idea for a crisp, but the combination is actually scrumptious. Spicy heat with a cocoa kick!”

Fish and chips creator Jane Hallam, 45, does not eat fish because she is a strict vegetarian, but can eat her own crisps because they do not contain any fish.

The social worker, who lives in Sheffield, chose fish and chips because it is a popular comfort food. She submitted a picture of a queue of people outside a fish and chip shop in Whitby as part of her entry.

She said: “Fish and chips is one of the most famous national dishes, so I felt sure that it would be something that could be enjoyed by everyone.”

Onion bhaji is 53-year-old Carole Wood’s entry, and the civil servant from Durham said she fancies her chances of winning.

The mother-of-two chose the unusual flavour because it is a family favourite and she has kept the Walkers steak and onion pack that prompted her entry as a good luck token.

Mrs Wood said: “Onion bhaji has a delicious, mildly spicy taste and will taste great as a crisp.”

Crispy duck and hoi sin sauce is the invention of Vicky Howard, from Northwich in Cheshire.

The 21-year-old, who draws maps for a living, made a crisp packet to accompany her entry by scanning a packet into her computer and replacing the traditional image with one of a duck made from crisps.

She said: “Crispy duck and hoi sin has been a long-time coming – it’s a favourite Chinese dish, so hopefully it will be everyone’s favourite crisp too.”

Builder’s breakfast is the brainchild of Emma Rushin from Belper in Derbyshire. The 27-year-old midwife, who has two children, combined bacon, buttered toast, eggs and tomato sauce to create her flavour.

She said “The combination is mouth-watering and I know it will be a hit with the British public.” Meanwhile Cajun squirrel is the wacky flavour created by Martyn Wright, 26, the only man to have made the final six.

The online marketer, who lives in Hednesford, Staffordshire, was inspired to enter when he saw squirrel on a restaurant menu and he believes the public will be so intrigued that they will have to buy a pack.

He said: “This gentle Cajun flavouring will be delicious for the public and although the idea might sound bizarre, it really works. No squirrels were harmed in the making of these crisps!”